Dancing Around the World and Playing Mozart Right

Dancing is an international language, even if you don't do it well. Today on Sound Focus, one Seattle traveler is on a mission to take his crazy dance around the world. We also find out what makes Mozart so hard to play well and discover what snowboarding can teach kids.

At 2:08 p.m. – Playing Mozart Right
It's difficult to play Mozart well. It's even harder to play if for audiences who aren't already classical music fans. It wasn't until he was in graduate school that Quinton Morris began to fully understand the challenges Mozart poses. Quinton is the founding director of the African American classical music ensemble The Young Eight, and an assistant music professor at Seattle University. We visit Quinton's studio on the Seattle University Campus to find out why it's hard to play Mozart well.

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At 2:20 p.m. – Bad Dancing around the World
Matt Harding works in the videogame industry here in Seattle. But his real passion is taking video of himself dancing in the various countries where he travels. Then, he posts those performances on his website. He's not a great dancer, but it has helped him connect with people around the world.

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At 2:40 p.m. – Gigi Yellen Music Commentary
What do classical music announcers listen to when they're not spinning Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? Gigi Yellen is a veteran broadcaster, former KUOW classical music host, Houston, Texas DJ and National Public Radio producer. She's currently the evening host at KING FM in Seattle. She shares some of the music she listens to outside of the radio studio.

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At 2:50 p.m. – The Service Board
We all want work that doesn't feel like work. And some of us also want work that includes playing in the snow. Roberto Ascalon's got that job. He works with The Service Board. It's an outreach organization that works to instill civic responsibility in kids ... and it takes them snowboarding. Roberto's worked with kids for years, but he says he thought there was something different about The Service Board.

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